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Call for no delay on climate deal World needs 'climate revolution'
(about 2 hours later)
As ministers begin two days of talks on climate change, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world's financial woes must not block climate progress. As ministers began two days of talks on climate change, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called for "new global solidarity" on the issue.
Ministers from 189 nations aim to finalise agreements drawn up here at the annual UN climate conference.Ministers from 189 nations aim to finalise agreements drawn up here at the annual UN climate conference.
As they talk, EU heads of state will be meeting in Brussels to agree energy and climate reforms including promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As they talk, EU heads of state are meeting in Brussels to agree energy and climate reforms, including promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
EU leadership is widely seen as crucial in reaching a new global climate deal. Developing country leaders have called on the EU to adopt strong measures.
The Poznan talks mark the half-way point in a two-year process initiated at the UN talks in Bali last year. Over the last year, governments have submitted ideas on what they would like to see in a new global pact, which is supposed to be finalised by next year's meeting in Copenhagen. Developing nations and environmental groups have repeatedly accused rich countries of not showing enough leadership at the conference here, which marks the half-way point in a two-year process initiated at the UN talks in Bali last year.
'Unprecedented crises' Over the last year, governments have submitted ideas on what they would like to see in a new global pact, which is supposed to be finalised by next year's meeting in Copenhagen.
However, environmental groups are concerned that as governments in the EU and elsewhere reach for ways to tackle the global financial crisis, they will put climate change to one side. 'Copernican revolution'
Mr Ban said that must not happen. Mr Ban said that economic concerns must not prevent developed countries from investing in elements of a "green economy", such as renewable energy, or from helping poorer nations to put their economic development onto a sustainable footing. class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7203313.stm">Tuvalu struggles to hold back tide
"We are going through unprecedented multiple crises starting from global financial crisis, food crisis and also climate change crisis," he told BBC News.If we take action today, it may not be too late, says Ban Ki-moon "We need a deal on climate change that will unleash a wave of investment in a green future," he told delegates at the opening session.
"If we take action today it may not be too late. But if we take action tomorrow, we may have to regret it for not only us, but for coming generations and even for planet Earth." Referencing leading figures and events in Polish history, he called for a "new Copernican revolution" in industrial paradigms, and said the world "needs a global solidarity on climate change - the defining challenge of our era".
The Poznan talks must set the stage for an agreement next December that includes "ratifiable, balanced and ambitious" targets for reducing the emissions of developed nations, he added. Also speaking at the opening plenary session, President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana said the developed world's response to the banking crisis showed what could be done.
UK energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband agreed. "Some may baulk at the scale of the financial resources required," he said.
"While these are challenging economic times, the world must not turn its back on climate change; indeed we must step up the pace," he said. "But if the will is there, the money will be found, as demonstrated when developed nations found seven trillion dollars to tackle the financial crisis."
"So all of us at Poznan have a duty to come here and show the path to a deep and comprehensive deal." If banks are too big to fail, he added, so is the climate, urging the international community to commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 - further than 50%, which is the target principally under discussion here.
Apisai Ielemia, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, said the West - and the larger developing economies - must make stringent cuts to avoid major damage to island states such as his.
"We cannot sink while others rise," he said.
Timing fault
Some EU countries, including Poland and Italy, are concerned that the climate and energy package being negotiated in Brussels will cost too much, and are asking for concessions.Protesters want action as soon as possible
The bloc is set to pledge emissions cuts of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, or by 30% if there is a global deal.
Many observers her feel that the lack of agreement on the package has reduced the impetus of the UN talks here, and that a weakened deal in Brussels would send "the wrong signal".
In addition, the EU has not yet published proposals on giving financial assistance for developing countries that could help them restrain the growth in their carbon emissions, which will be a vital component of a future global treaty.
Another factor curbing progress is the fact that the US delegation represents the outgoing administration of George Bush rather than the incoming one of Barack Obama.
All this may mean, some observers say, that the timescale is too tight to reach a Copenhagen deal that includes firm targets on reducing emissions.
Protection fundProtection fund
Many of the documents under discussion for the last two weeks have been agreed with little demur. Many of the documents that officials from the 189 countries have been discussing for the last two weeks have been agreed with little demur.
However, there have been serious wrangles over some issues which could not be resolved before the ministerial segment. However, there are still serious wrangles over some issues which could not be resolved before the ministerial segment.
One concerns the UN Adaptation Fund, a pot of money that is designed to help developing countries protect their societies and economies against potential impacts of climate change. One concerns the UN Adaptation Fund, a pot of money designed to help developing countries protect their societies and economies against potential impacts of climate change.
Current proposals see the World Bank as a major player in managing the money.Current proposals see the World Bank as a major player in managing the money.
Developing countries are unhappy with this, and want a separate body set up that would, as they see it, be more responsive to their needs. Developing countries are unhappy with this, and want a separate body set up that would, as they see it, be more responsive to their needs - the sting in the tail being that this wrangle could delay the first payments from the fund.
Protesters want action as soon as possible"There needs to be more equity in the process," said Harjeet Singh, a campaigner with Action Aid in India. The meeting is scheduled to end on Friday evening here, but some delegates believe talks may run through the night into Saturday, as has been a feature of many this conference's predecessors.
"The most vulnerable countries should be able to get more from the fund, and it must be responsive to the national adaptation plans that governments have drawn up."
The sting in the tail for developing countries is that the wrangle could delay the first payments from the fund.
No Obama role
Many observers here feel there are two issues that have reduced the impetus for progress here.
One is the fact that the EU has yet to agree its climate and energy package, under which the bloc is set to pledge emissions cuts of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, or by 30% if there is a global deal.
"The EU is to be blamed here," said Mr Singh. "If the EU had concluded its agreement by now, others would have followed suit."
The other issue is that the US delegation here represents the outgoing administration of George Bush, with the incoming one of Barack Obama playing no visible role, despite the proposals he has floated on reducing US emissions.
The EU package could yet unravel - though few believe it will - or it could be weakened by concessions to countries such as Poland which believe it will incur unpalatable costs.
In addition, the bloc has not yet published proposals on giving financial assistance for developing countries that could help them restrain the growth in their carbon emissions.
This will be a key ingredient of any agreement in Copenhagen, and developing nations will need to study it - as they will Mr Obama's eventual policies - before deciding how far they are prepared to go in a package.
It may mean, some observers say, that the timescale is too tight to reach a Copenhagen deal that includes the "ratifiable, balanced and ambitious" targets that Mr Ban considers necessary.
Does the world financial crisis mean we have to reconsider measures on climate changes? Or should governments move forward with climate reforms? You can send us your comments using the form below:Does the world financial crisis mean we have to reconsider measures on climate changes? Or should governments move forward with climate reforms? You can send us your comments using the form below:
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